Here in Europe they are freed from legal consequences should the vaccine harm someone. Instead our countries are to pay any occurring damaging. So I don’t quiet get what motivated the vaccine makers to await the approval given that they are practically free from prosecution anyway.
The U.S. has a similar regulatory regime to manage vaccine liability. But it's not a free-for-all; vaccines need to meet certain criteria before they qualify for this program.
This is a huge reason that these companies are concerned. If they are pushed to release a vaccine too early, and it harms a bunch of people, any evidence they bent the rules at all will be used to try to break their immunity from civil liability. It would be a field day for personal injury lawyers.
The real question is the risk/benefit profile. Does the benefit of the vaccine outweigh the risks. That was a "no" for the swine flu vaccine since the outbreak fizzled out quickly.
If tens of thousands were dying every month from the swine flu, then the vaccine may have still be worth it even with the GBS side effect.
